Kimmorley, Dykes may get chop
Glenn Jackson and Brad Walter | May 30, 2007
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart will meet the manager of Adam Dykes and Brett Kimmorley in a bid to resolve their uncertain futures with the club - with chief executive Greg Pierce admitting the ongoing speculation was hurting the team on the field.
Stuart spoke to George Mimis, the manager of both players, last night and they have agreed to meet in the next few days to discuss the two players.
Pierce said he hoped the two could meet before the team left for Townsville on Friday, conceding ongoing speculation about the two halves affected the side against the Roosters last weekend.
"We just want to get it done, so the players can put their minds at rest," Pierce said. "It has been disruptive. Because so much has happened, it's all gotten a bit complicated. And it's taken its toll a bit. We've got to solve it and move on."
Kimmorley recently had a two-year deal worth almost $700,000 withdrawn, while Dykes is weighing up offers from the Sharks and English Super League. The Sharks have told Brett Seymour, Josh Hannay and Michael Greenfield they are not in Stuart's plans for next season and beyond, and while that would free up sufficient funds to keep both players, that option is considered "remote" by club officials.
Still, Kimmorley is keen to stay, and is building a house in the Shire for his young family.
Should the Sharks lose either Kimmorley or Dykes, Parramatta's Blake Green has been mentioned as a possible replacement.
Meanwhile, Manly five-eighth Travis Burns is set to hit the player market as soon as today in a bid to secure a regular starting berth, with North Queensland the favourites to secure him.
The Broncos and Titans have also expressed interest in him.
While he would like to stay at Manly and signed this season on a one-year deal, Burns has been told Jamie Lyon is the preferred No.6 at Brookvale - leaving him the option of taking over the utility/hooker role currently being filled by Michael Monaghan.
But Burns has a strong preference for five-eighth and North Queensland have a vacancy with veteran Jason Smith expected to retire at the end of the season.
Brisbane's focus has shifted to Penrith five-eighth Peter Wallace, who is expected to make a decision on his future after Friday night's match against Manly.
Manly is expected to retain second-rower Anthony Watmough and Test prop Brent Kite.
In other contract news, the Bulldogs have been strongly linked to Melbourne prop Ben Cross, who has been forced to leave the Storm due to salary cap constraints following the re-signing of NSW Origin representative Brett White.
Melbourne also boast Queensland prop Antonio Kaufusi and New Zealand international Adam Blair in their front row.
Elsewhere, South Sydney yesterday announced the re-signing of juniors Yileen Gordon, Fetuli Talanoa and Eddie Paea.
Gordon, who has played 24 NRL games and represented the Junior Kangaroos in 2005, re-signed for a further two seasons, while Talanoa and Paea extended their contracts until the end of next season.
Former South Sydney coach Shaun McRae is considering taking on the Salford job made vacant last week by the relegation-threatened Super League club's sacking of Karl Harrison.
